Two theaters team up to present satirical revue of Lehrer songs

There are a lot of firsts involved in the production of
"Tomfoolery," which is co-presented by North Coast Repertory
Theatre and Renaissance Theatre Company. It's the San Diego
premiere of this musical revue of Tom Lehrer's satiric songs. And
it's the first time that George Flint has directed a musical.

Flint is best known as the artistic director of Renaissance,
which has presented soul-searching dramas such as "Waiting for
Godot," "Long Day's Journey Into Night" and "A View From the
Bridge."

"For me, this show is a total switch," said Flint. "But I
decided if we were going to do a show at this time of the year, it
should be a lot of fun. (Theater critic) Pat Launer suggested this
show and it seemed the perfect choice. I told (NCRT artistic
director) David Ellenstein, and it turned out he's a real Lehrer
aficionado."

The show celebrates the work of Lehrer, a Harvard-educated math
professor who wrote and performed irreverent and wry songs about
the topics of the '50s and '60s, such as the A-bomb, racism,
pollution, Boy Scouts and many other American "sacred cows."

"If after hearing my songs," Lehrer said in a 1959 interview,
"just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a
friend or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been
worthwhile."

"Most people my age know of Tom Lehrer," said Flint. "He was
enormously popular with young people in the '50s and '60s. But he's
been out of circulation for so long."

In 1980, producer Cameron Mackintosh asked Lehrer if he could
put together a musical revue of his songs. Lehrer said he didn't
mind.

"Lehrer had nothing to do with the revue," Flint said. "They
crafted a little connecting narrative and made a hysterically funny
show. What's amazing is that many of the issues he wrote about
still exist —— such as pollution and controversies with the Boy
Scouts —— so the songs are still timely.

"The songs are very funny, very clever satire. The lyrics are
witty and extremely clever. That's why he was so popular with
college students."

The show, which utilizes four actors, did very well. It toured
all over the country, but interestingly enough, it never came to
San Diego. Now it has.

To tackle his first musical, Flint assembled an experienced
staff. Cris O'Bryon is the musical director and San Diego theater
veteran Ole Kittleson is overseeing the musical staging and
choreography.

"My role is assembling the piece," said Flint. "I'm the overall
coordinator as the director and producer. Ole has done a fabulous
job. No, we not only have the humor of the songs, but also the
visual humor. I didn't want a static representation of the
songs."

Yet the songs are truly the heart of this show. Lehrer's words
are what makes it a completely different theatrical experience.

"These songs are just satirical fun," he said. "I think it's
going to be a very enjoyable show."